0002 The Immortal’s Guiding Finger

Page 1/3

You, Old Ding, what a cunning old fox—you actually use tricks on an honest young fellow from the same hometown! Jiang Mingzhe cursed inwardly, fully immersed now in the scenario he had crafted, a basic skill of a top-notch salesman.

"...I have ventured forth!" Jiang Mingzhe wore a face of disappointment. "There are more sacred places than those mentioned by the immortals. I have visited many grotto heavens and blessed lands. Though I encountered numerous Taoist priests and monks, I have yet to meet a true god or immortal. I do not know if immortals all reside in the heavens, or if it is simply that my own destiny lacks the grace of immortality. Therefore, I have sworn to journey to Mount Kunlun, said to be the origin of all mountains. If even Kunlun holds no immortals, then I shall accept my fate."

Mount Kunlun lies five thousand li to the east and west, where the Starry Sea is located, just south of the eastern edge of Kunlun.

At this, Jiang Mingzhe’s eyes brightened, his expression filled with dreams. "When I reached Kunlun, I realized how vast the mountain is—likely impossible to traverse in a lifetime. I felt disheartened, yet that night I dreamed of an old immortal, radiant with golden light, whose gaze I could not meet. He said he was my ancestor, passing by by chance, and entrusted me with a few words..."

He seemed to struggle to recall, speaking carefully, "‘Since you have set your will, why not, why not head south? Follow the great river upstream, the immortal, the immortal named by the stars! Everlasting spring, riding the wind to soar, carefree to realize the Way, realize the Way...'"

Ding Chunqiu’s expression suddenly grew intense. Seeing Jiang Mingzhe’s deep concentration, he grew impatient but held back from urging him on, his gaze burning with anticipation, hoping he would remember what came after "realize the Way."

But for Jiang Mingzhe to fabricate those few lines was already a tribute to his lifelong Chinese teachers.

Moreover, besides Ding Chunqiu’s claim of being the Starry Immortal and his origin in the Carefree Sect, there was no further information to draw upon.

Feigning thoughtfulness, Jiang Mingzhe shook his head in disappointment. "I truly cannot recall what follows."

"Ah, what a fool!" Ding Chunqiu was even more disappointed, lamenting with a heavy sigh.

Suddenly, A Zi laughed, "Master is right! This person is truly foolish—he doesn’t even know how to lie properly. There are no immortals in this world! Master, I fear this man is a great fool, obsessed with seeking immortals, dreaming day and night, taking his dreams for reality!"

Jiang Mingzhe was slightly surprised. Was A Zi really so kind?

Being eloquent, he naturally discerned the tone behind her words. Though it seemed she was exposing his lie, she was actually worried that the falsehood was too obvious and might anger Ding Chunqiu into killing him, so she was gently trying to ease the situation.

Ding Chunqiu shot A Zi a glare. "You’re so young, what do you understand? These few words aren’t something ordinary people could make up!"

Though Ding Chunqiu did not truly believe in immortals appearing in dreams, Jiang Mingzhe’s subsequent words struck him like a thunderclap in his ear.

He thought: "Why head south? That’s because my Starry Sea lies just south of Kunlun. Following the river upstream must lead to it. ‘Immortal named by the stars’—doesn’t that correspond exactly to my title, the Starry Immortal?"

If it were just this, it might be mere hearsay, someone knowing his name and place and making up a few words. But the phrases "Everlasting spring," "riding the wind to soar," and "carefree to realize the Way"!

The first two correspond precisely to the Carefree Sect’s two peerless martial arts, and "carefree to realize the Way" not only hints at Ding Chunqiu’s origin but also embodies the shared aspiration of all Carefree disciples.

Ding Chunqiu was confident that only a handful of people in the world knew of his Carefree Sect origin. Unless this young man was sent by one of them—otherwise...

Even with his cultivation and composure, his heart thumped wildly at the thought of this "otherwise."

Ding Chunqiu was born into the Carefree Sect. Because of an affair with his senior uncle Li Qiushui, the sect leader, Wuyazi, discovered them. Li Qiushui and Ding Chunqiu conspired to push Wuyazi off a cliff.

Later, Li Qiushui tired of Ding Chunqiu and left him behind. Ding Chunqiu was deceived by his senior brother Su Xinghe, who convinced him that the Carefree Sect’s secret arts were buried in the Starry Sea. So he came here to establish a sect and took root in this desolate place.

Years passed, and no secret manual was ever found. Ding Chunqiu had grown somewhat despairing, vaguely suspecting he had been deceived.

But when a dream pursued for many years shatters in an instant, how many can easily accept reality unless it is presented in bloody fact?

Page 2/3

This is the saying: “One does not give up until reaching the Yellow River, nor shed tears until seeing the coffin.”

At this moment, Jiang Mingzhe’s words "carefree to realize the Way" rekindled Ding Chunqiu’s faint and broken dream, making it vivid again.

Though outwardly calm, Ding Chunqiu was overcome with excitement, veins bulging faintly on his forehead.

His thoughts raced: Senior uncle Li Qiushui would never stoop to such trickery to deceive me; it would not benefit her. As for Su Xinghe, he would rather I never return to the Central Plains—how could he dare to provoke me?

Apart from these two, no one else in the world could grasp the impact of the words "carefree to realize the Way" on me!

Unless... he is not of this world!

He could not help but wonder: Could this young man truly have been guided by an immortal?

The immortal said I could realize the Way carefree!

To realize the Way carefree means I shall ultimately discover the sect’s inheritance and ascend to immortality!

Seeing Ding Chunqiu’s shifting expression, Jiang Mingzhe quietly reviewed his own words just spoken—

If I say an immortal guided me, will he not believe? After all, the Carefree Sect is of Taoist lineage, and from childhood they have been immersed in such beliefs. Even if they do not fully believe, they would never completely deny the possibility of immortals. Even a thousand years later with advanced technology, countless people still believe in deities. How much more so now?

Realizing this, Jiang Mingzhe felt confident: If Old Ding believed even a fraction, I did not think he could resist the allure of the dream "carefree to realize the Way."

Suddenly, Ding Chunqiu threw back his head and laughed heartily, his voice so loud it caused ripples on the lake.

Caught off guard, Jiang Mingzhe felt as if his eardrums were being torn to shreds. He screamed in pain, rolled on the ground, and desperately stuffed clumps of mud into his ears.

A Zi gasped, covered her ears, and stepped back quickly.

Though she had some inner power cultivation, albeit shallow, it was far more bearable than what Jiang Mingzhe endured.

Yet instinctively, she pouted, reluctant: Finally a good person to tease, and now Master is going to kill him?

She hesitated, wanting to plead for this man but fearing her master’s wrath. As she wavered, Ding Chunqiu’s laughter abruptly ceased.

A Zi was momentarily stunned, then realized: Ah, Master is testing if he has any martial arts!

Her guess was exactly what Ding Chunqiu intended.

Though Ding Chunqiu saw that Jiang Mingzhe had no martial skills—his hands and feet not even calloused—he still deliberately exerted inner power while laughing to test him.

He was quite satisfied: Jiang Mingzhe truly had no combat ability.

Thinking to himself: This is it. If not for immortal protection, how could such a weakling have traveled safely here? He should have long become a bandit’s victim or stew in some black market inn.

But if immortals truly exist in this world, why would they protect this person?

Ding Chunqiu pondered a moment, then asked, “Young man, what is your name? Is your ancestral home really in Qufu?”

Jiang Mingzhe curled up on the ground, unresponsive.

Ding Chunqiu chuckled, lightly clapped his palm, sending a gentle force that shook the mud from Jiang Mingzhe’s ears.

He asked again, and Jiang Mingzhe finally heard, struggling to rise, his heart pounding with fear. That laugh of his was almost like a sonic weapon. If it went on any longer, it would surely kill him.

Page 3/3

He did not understand why Ding Chunqiu asked about his ancestral home again but felt uneasy. Forcing himself to remain calm, he said, “I am Jiang Mingzhe—‘Jiang’ as in ginger, ‘Mingzhe’ meaning wise and prudent for self-preservation. As for my ancestry, my father would not deceive me.”

Ding Chunqiu’s eyes flickered. So it matched—indeed.

A Zi laughed heartily, “‘Jiang’ as in ginger? Master, look at his face all covered in dirt, yellow like freshly dug ginger!”

Ding Chunqiu paid no mind, speaking coldly: “Your surname Jiang originates from Shennong, one of the eight ancient great clans. The Flame Emperor was born by the Jiang River, hence the surname Jiang. His descendant Jiang Ziya was enfeoffed in Qi during the early Zhou dynasty, present-day Shandong region. Your family residing in Qufu makes sense. So you are a descendant of Shennong... Ha, meeting me is not without reason.”

Yes, yes, whatever you say!

Though Jiang Mingzhe did not know what the reason was, he admired the other’s vast knowledge.

He thought: The Carefree Sect’s heritage is profound and broad, encompassing music, chess, calligraphy, medicine, divination, astrology, and various crafts, not merely martial arts. Though Ding Chunqiu is not as obsessed with miscellaneous learning as Su Xinghe, he is still far more erudite than ordinary martial artists. His references and citations convinced me.

What Jiang Mingzhe did not know was that the "reason" Ding Chunqiu spoke of was his own self-awareness. He suspected that if a true immortal guided someone to seek immortality, would they lead them to a heretical path like his?

But if that old immortal was Shennong or a minor immortal under him, that would be a different matter—

Ding Chunqiu possessed a treasured artifact and long suspected it was connected to Shennong. Since Jiang Mingzhe was a descendant of Shennong, this neatly fit the cause and effect.

He could not help but think further: This man’s bloodline must be very pure. Among countless Jiang families in the world, why is it that only he has this opportunity? Just because he longs to seek immortality?

Fate, fate... Ding Chunqiu smiled faintly: Perhaps this is also my own destiny!

He mulled it over, already convinced to sixty percent, suppressing the remaining doubts for the time being. After all, Jiang Mingzhe had no martial arts training; in his eyes, he was less threatening than an ant.

Finally, Ding Chunqiu’s gaze softened.

Seeing Jiang Mingzhe’s admiring expression, he nodded inwardly—

This youth called me immortal at first sight, which I thought was flattery for my extraordinary presence. Now it seems, he truly has this immortal fate!

Yes, the youth is a bit older, but he is filial and pure. If he achieves something in the future, he will surely be grateful to me...

Moreover, our sect’s skills do not demand strong lineage. Compared with Star Picker, whose looks are less favorable and whose aura is somewhat sinister, this youth’s appearance is far superior and better suited to join my sect...

Throughout history, disciples of the Carefree Sect have been handsome and beautiful.

But the Starry Sea is barren and isolated. If Ding Chunqiu insisted on beauty, he might not find a single disciple in ten years. In such a vast territory, who would help him seek the secret manuals? So he had to abandon his standards for appearance.

Looking closely at Jiang Mingzhe’s features—sword-like brows, starry eyes, straight nose, sharp cheekbones, tall stature, long legs, broad shoulders, narrow waist—Ding Chunqiu was secretly pleased: This youth indeed had the bearing of my younger self!

With a few flicks of his feather fan, Ding Chunqiu smiled slightly: “Enough. Since an immortal guided you here, it is your fate. Haha, I am Ding Chunqiu, known as the Starry Immortal, founder of the Starry Sect. Tell me, have you understood anything?”

“Starry Immortal...” Jiang Mingzhe repeated, showing surprise. “Follow the great river upstream, the immortal, the immortal named by the stars!”

“Heh heh heh heh, ha ha ha ha!” Ding Chunqiu laughed again, but this time his laughter contained no inner force.